How many MPs are in favor of Prachanda? Such is arithmetic

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ is taking the vote of confidence today.

Prime Minister Prachanda is going to take the vote of confidence at the meeting of the House of Representatives at 11 am.

Senior member Pashupati Shamsher JB Rana, who fixed the time for that purpose, informed about the vote of confidence in yesterday’s meeting.

Prime Minister Dahal requested that the matter be included on the agenda of the meeting in accordance with clause (2) of Article 76 of the Nepalese Constitution, which states that he was appointed Prime Minister on Dec 25 and that the appointed Prime Minister must seek a vote of confidence from the House of Representatives within 30 days. JB Rana informed the House that the agenda had been finalized.

The Prime Minister was appointed with the support of 169 MPs from seven parties, including the Prachanda Maoist Center, the United Communist Party of India, and three independents. A motion of confidence requires 138 votes.

Prachanda received support from 169 MPs, including 78 from the UML, 32 from the Maoists, 20 from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, 14 from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, 12 from the JSP, 6 from the Janamat Party, 4 from the Nagarik Unmukti Party, and three others. As a result, he was appointed Prime Minister on Dec 25.

Sources said that the Nepali Congress and the CPN Unified Socialist Party, which are outside the ruling coalition, may also give a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Dahal. Prime Minister Prachanda met Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba yesterday evening to give him a vote of confidence. Congress is also said to be positive for that.

He has called a parliamentary party meeting at 9 am today. After that, the Congress will decide, Chief Whip of the parliamentary party, Ramesh Lekhak said. Prachanda was appointed Prime Minister in an alliance with the UML, breaking the alliance with the Congress on Dec 25.